Soldiers Recreation Club in Willingdon School

From early in the war camps sprung up around Willingdon and there were also many troops billeted in the the parish.

On 15 February 1915 a meeting of the gentlemen of the village was hastily called at the Vicarage and it was agreed to provide a Club Room for soldiers who were billeted in the village. With consent of the headmaster Mr Haylock, Rev Owen Lechmere Tudor, vicar and the school managers it was decided the Church School would be the ideal place, It was agreed the schoolrooms should be open each evening between 6pm and 9.30pm with the stoves lit throughout the winter months.

The Camp below the Downs, Willingdon. Image courtesy of Rosalind Hodge

The Camp below the Downs, Willingdon. Image courtesy of Rosalind Hodge

An appeal was made to all residents of the parish to help with the supply of games, cards and books. Quality newspapers, stationery and writing materials were also to be provided by the committee. The piano in the school meant other forms of amusement and entertainment could be organised including sing songs and home talent concerts. Those present at the initial meeting agreed to form a committee, sponsor the scheme and generously provided funds to last a considerable time. Officers from the Royal Naval Airship Station were billeted in the village and made use of the club until the camp had its own recreation facilities.

This photograph taken in 1915 shows a camp set up on the fields of Spots Farm at Upper Willingdon, the site where the main Eastbourne Road was constructed some twenty years later. Men and horses are clearly visible as are items of clothing spread out to dry on the hedges. The church and ‘The Hoo’, a house designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, can be seen in the background. This camp was made up of troops from the South Western Mounted Brigade consisting of the 1st Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, 2nd Surrey Yeomanry and the 1st Hampshire Carabineers, 1st Battery of the Royal Field Artillery, 3rd Field Company Royal Engineers and the mounted Field Ambulance Brigade totalling almost 1000 men.

A camp of this size had a considerable impact on the small village. Further along the bottom of the Downs towards Wannock a further camp was set up in 1916, The village Soldiers’ Club proved very popular and due to the large numbers involved a rota was drawn up to share the facility among the many men. Mrs Tudor the Vicar’s wife arranged a group of ladies to make tea for the troops as strictly no alcoholic drinks were permitted.

This story was submitted by Rosalind Hodge, Archivist, Willingdon Parish Church